AeroLites Bearcat

The AeroLites Bearcat is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by AeroLites, of Welsh, Louisiana and introduced in 1984. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2][3][4]

Bearcat
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer AeroLites
First flight 1984
Status In production (2012)
Unit cost
US$15,000 (kit, with Rotax 447 engine included, 2015)

Design and development

The Bearcat features a strut-braced parasol-wing, a single-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1][2][3]

The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing with the wing constructed with an aluminum structure, with its flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. The ribs slide into pockets in the fabric. Its 30 ft (9.1 m) span wing employs a Clark Y airfoil and has an area of 150 sq ft (14 m2). Standard engines available are the 40 hp (30 kW) Rotax 447, the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 two-stroke powerplants. Equipment to convert the aircraft for aerial application is also available.[1][2][3][5]

The manufacturer claims that the supplied kit takes 60–90 hours to assemble.[6]

Operational history

By 1998 the company had reported that nine Bearcats and two Ag Bearcats were flying.[3]

Variants
Bearcat
Base model[1][3][6]
Ag Bearcat
Model equipped as an agricultural aircraft, originally equipped with a 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 532 engine.[1][3][4][6]

Specifications (Bearcat)

Data from Bayerl and AeroLites[1][6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
  • Wing area: 150 sq ft (14 m2)
  • Empty weight: 275 lb (125 kg)
  • Gross weight: 700 lb (318 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 447 twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 40 hp (30 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed composite, 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 60 mph (96 km/h, 52 kn)
  • Stall speed: 27 mph (43 km/h, 23 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
  • g limits: +6/-4
  • Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 4.66 lb/sq ft (22.8 kg/m2)
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References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 91. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 94. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 100. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  4. Aerofiles (n.d.). "American airplanes: Ab - Ak". Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  5. Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  6. AeroLites (n.d.). "Bearcat & Ag Bearcat". Retrieved 17 September 2012.
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